NCPO warns protest supporters of repercussions

BANGKOK, 30 May 2014 – The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has issued a warning to those who are providing aid for protest groups to cease their action as it violates the NCPO’s order and is punishable by law.

The NCPO indicated that authorities had discovered several individuals who had breached the NCPO’s order by assisting or facilitating political activists in their activities. Many have reportedly allowed demonstrators to use their properties as gathering venues while others have supplied equipment, such as loudspeakers, tents and power generators.

Therefore, the NCPO declared that those individuals must discontinue their support for the protesters immediately; otherwise they would be faced with legal action and any lent equipment might also be confiscated.

In a previous announcement, the NCPO prohibited a gathering of five persons or more in a bid to maintain peace and order in the country and the penalty was clearly stated. Anyone supporting such gathering, meanwhile, would be given two-thirds of that penalty.